Ten memories that defined Ken Griffey Jr.

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People were a little surprised when Ken Griffey Jr. received the highest percentage of votes of any player ever elected to the Hall of Fame. The more I think about, however, it’s not so surprising: While nobody argues that Griffey is the greatest player of all time, he had so many iconic moments and was so popular in the 1990s that it makes sense. He was a true pop culture icon in that decade, maybe the last baseball player who appeared regularly in national commercial spots, a feat even more amazing when you consider he never played in a World Series. For people of a certain age — or those, like myself, who were Seattle Mariners fans — Griffey defined baseball in the 1990s. Fans liked him. Kids loved him. He ran for president. He was on “The Simpsons.” He appeared on “Harry and the Hendersons.” No wonder he got more votes than Babe Ruth or Willie Mays.

1. The Mad Dash.

Elaine Thompson/AP Photo

In Seattle, it’s known as The Double, as Edgar Martinez drilled the series-winning two-bagger down the left-field line to stun the New York Yankees in extra innings of Game 5 to cap the most exciting Division Series ever played. How did Griffey score from first on the play? On a double to left field with no outs? It remains the greatest moment in Mariners history, and the photo of him peeking out from under his teammates with a smile as wide as Puget Sound is not just an iconic Seattle sports photo, it’s an iconic sports photo period, capturing the pure joy of winning, of celebration. When you think of Griffey, you may think of that sweet swing or the great catches, but any longtime Mariners fan first thinks of that dogpile at home plate.

It’s important to remember the context of those 1995 Mariners, the miracle Mariners who rallied from 12.5 games behind in late August to tie the Angels and win the tiebreaking game to make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Baseball in Seattle looked dead. A vote in early September for a new ballpark had failed. Rumors about the team moving — most likely to Tampa — had hung over the organization and fan base for years. Heck, they had just two winning seasons before 1995. Then came the heroic run to win the division. Then came the win over the Yankees — Griffey hit five home runs in the series, including one off David Cone in the eighth inning of Game 5 that cut a 4-2 deficit to 4-3. After the playoff run, the state legislature managed to push through funding for the new park. Griffey had helped save baseball in Seattle.

2. Back-to-back with dad.

In 1990, Griffey was in his second season with the Mariners when the club signed his 40-year-old dad in August. Maybe it was …

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